Plans for church hall complex

The St John the Baptist Anglican Church hall is no longer fit for purpose and the parish and diocese are making plansto replace it.

The existing hall can only cater for 50 people and the Reverend Jo Crosse told Dannevirke Community Board members this week a replacement with capacity for 250 would be ideal.

“The new hall would also likely be the home for Tararua Family Services who are looking for a better facility and our Elske Centre is hoping to expand,” she said. “The new building would be a church hall, a base for Lavender Blue, a social services hub, a base for St John cadets and our preschool music group. We are really open to suggestions because we want the new facility to be used by the community.

“You are the people with their finger on the pulse and I’d like your input and suggestions.”

Jo said the new building would also have office and counselling space, as well as a flexible hall space.

“The social services trust board is carrying out a strategic review, with the diocese involved in that conversation and the review should be out by the end of November or the beginning of December,” she said.

Ross MacDonald, chairman of the community board, said it was obvious the new building would be occupied every day and he would be keen to see the plans when they are ready.

“It’s quite exciting. There is going to be another new building on High St,” he said. Jo said she was hopeful timelines and plans would be ready by the end of January next year.

“I’ve taken the vestry and visited Hawke’s Bay to look at options,” she said.

Photo: Christine McKay The large, empty section adjacent to St John the Baptist Anglican Church and the existing hall, which will ultimately house new offices and a hall, but a new access driveway to the former vicarage, now sold, will be built along the right-hand side first.